Multiple collapsible screw driver



Dec. 13, 1955 MALM MULTIPLE COLLAPSIBLE SCREW DRIVER INVENTOR HEN RY MQLM ATTORNEY Filed June 22, 1951 r 2,726,695 Patented Dec. 13,1955

MULTEPLE COLLAPSIBLE SCREW DRIVER Henry Malm, New York, N. Y.

Application June 22, 1951, Serial No. 233,065

2 Claims. c1. 145-50 This invention relates to tools of the collapsible type and, more particularly, to a combination screw driver, wherein three different sized screw driver tips are provided in a single tool and, wherein, the various parts of the tool are normally maintained in a collapsed, compact position and adapted to be extended into different positions for use.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a tool of the character described, wherein two of the screw driver shanks may be extended with respect to the tool body to form a crosshead handle structure for the operation of the other of said tools, particularly when leverage is required to securely set a screw or to loosen a hardly set screw.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a handle member or stock, with which a pre-assembled screw driver body unit is readily attachable.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side and sectional view illustrating a tool made according to my invention and showing one screw driver element in an extended position in full lines, with another element in collapsed position in full lines and indicating both of said elements in other positions in dot and dash lines.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. l, with an element of the screw driver in a different position.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view, similar to Fig. 4, showing a modification.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 1 of the modification, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view, similar to Fig. 3, but showing only the stock of the tool; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional detailed view of one end portion of the. screw driver, as shown in Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, I provide a collapsible multiple screw driver tool, wherein a multiple element screw driver element 10 is employed, this unit comprising a metallic mounting member 11, having a socket 12 at one end for reception of the shank 13 of a screw driver element 14, having a large or heavy tip end 15.

At 16 is shown another screw driver element having a somewhat smaller tip end 17 and, at 18, is shown the third element, having a still smaller tip end 19. The shanks of the elements 16 and 18 are substantially of the same diameter and these shanks terminate in rounded pivot ends 20 and 21, respectively, which ends are offset with respect to the shanks, as indicated at 22 and 23.

The pivot ends 20, 21 fit in and operate in recesses 24 and 25 of the member 11, these recesses being formed by a transverse split 26 in the member 11, note Fig. 2. ,Mounted in the split 26 are U-shaped springs 27 and 28 arranged back to back within the split 26, as clearly seen in Fig. 2, and the ends thereof are adapted to extend into engagement with the pivotends 20, 21 to tensionally support the same, the elements 16 and 18, particularly when in the upwardly extended positions, indicated in Fig. l of the drawing.

The member 11 has an annular groove for receiving a pivot forming ring 29, which passes through the pivot rings 20, 21 and serves to provide the axis of rotation for the elements 16 and 18. The member 11, inwardly of the recesses 24 and 25, is substantially of the crosssectional contour seen in Fig. 4 of the drawing. In other words, the member has recessed sides, as at 30 and 31, and grooved upper and lower surfaces, as at 32.

Secured in the member 11 are drive or pressed rivets, as at 33, which extend into the socket 12 to form a key entering a recess 34 at the inner end of the shank 13 to definitely key the shank against rotation in the member 11. It is also preferred, however, that the shank 13 be welded or otherwise fixed in position in the socket 12, as is indicated by the weld 35.

The structure, as above defined, comprises a unit which is contained and housed for the most part Within a stock or body 36 of moulded rubber. This body has a longitudinal bore 37, through which the element 14 can be forcibly passed, the bore opening at its upper end in a large recess 38 for the reception of the member 11, as will clearly appear from a consideration of Fig. 1.

Considering now Fig. 4 of the drawing, it will appear that the stock 36 has longitudinal side grooves 39 and 40 for reception of the elements 16 and 18, respectively, the grooves 39 and 40 being suflicient to completely house the elements within boundaries of the stock 36, it being understood that the elements 16 and 18 will be exposed at the sides of the stock.

The grooves 39 and 40 open into upper side recess portions 39' and 40, which receive the ring bearing portions 20, 21 of the elements 16 and 18 and also facilitate swinging movement of said elements. The upper rounded end of the stock 36 is normally closed by inwardly extending lip portions 41 disposed at opposite sides of a central yielding bridge portion 42, note Fig. 3 of the drawing. This construction provides for swinging movement of the elements 16 and 18 into the upwardly extended position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, in which operation the lips 41 are spread apart against the action of the yielding bridge 42; the element 16 has been shown in such extended position in Fig. 3; whereas, the element 18 is shown in the laterally extending position with the lips 41 at the right still maintained in abutting relationship.

This construction provides a neatly closed appearance to the top of the tool when the elements 16 and 18 are both in collapsed position and, at the same time, the lips 41 ofter additional frictional engagement in maintaining the elements 16 and 18 in the upwardly extended position, as noted.

It will be apparent from a consideration of Fig. 4 of the drawing that the stock 36 has inwardly extending key ribs 43 adapted to enter the grooves 32 and is also recessed, as at 44, to receive the heads of the rivets 33, this establishing a keying engagement of the stock 36 on the unit 10.

It will be understood that the stock 36 can be separately moulded and assemblage of the unit 10 with the stock is made possible by extending one element, for example the element 16, down through the upper, wide end of the stock when disposed at the right of the bridge portion 42 and in flexing the bridge portion sufficiently to pass the element 16 into the groove 39, while at the same time, entering the element 14 in the bore 37.

Keeping in mind that the tip end 15 is greater in width than the diameter of the, shank 13,- the moulded rubber body will yield sufficiently to permit this assemblage and,

' after the unit 10 hasbeen moved downwardly to the point Whdlfi'ihti upper recessed end of the memberll clears the bridge. part 42, then this bridge part will flex back to its normal centralized position.

In the above assembly operation, the other element 18 may .be in the extended full line position shown in Fig. 1. It will, of course, be apparent that the stock 3 can be moulded directly upon the unit '10 if desired, suitable steps being taken to control the flow of rubber, particularly at the pivot end portion of the unit 10.

In Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, I have shown a slight modification, wherein represents a unit, similar to the unit 10, except with respect to cross-sectional contour of part of the member 11' of said unit, in other words, the recesses 30, 31 are eliminated and, "with this construction, in-

stead of employing a single moulded stock or body, as at 36, a stock or body 45 is employed which comprises two 7 substantially similar parts 46, 46' which are recessed to receive the unit 10, the parts having side recesses, as at 47, 47' to collecitvely form grooves at side edges of the stock, shnilar to the grooves 39 and 40 for reception of elements 16', 18, similar to the elements 16 and 18, note Fig. 6. a In this figure, I have shown at 14' the shank por- .46 have recesses, as at 50, 50', note Fig. 5, to receive a bolt 51, including the head and nut thereof, the latter being recessed in the parts as clearly seen, this bolt being utilized to hold the parts 46, 46 in assembled relation on the unit 10'.

In Fig. 7 of the drawing, I have shown the upper end of the stock 45 and it will appear that the grooves extend across the head and join abutting portions 52, which would be generally similar to the bridge 42 and operate to partially check upward swinging movement of the elements 16', 18'. In other words, with the structure shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, the lips, as at 41 are dispensed with.

In Fig. 8 of the drawing, I have shown the contracted end portion of the stock 45 and this end portion and the separate parts thereof are recessed, as seen at 53, to receive a ferrule 54 that is slidably mounted on the element 14', so as to free the elements 16', 18 for swinging movement. In other words, the ferrule 54 normally fits over the two elements 16', 18 to hold them in position and, when either element is swung into its extended position, the ferrule can be returned onto the stock 45 to hold the contracted end of the stock in assembled relationship.

7 A suitable bead or indentation 55 can be employed to frictionally retain theferrule in its operative position, as shown in Fig. 8.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tool of the class described, comprising a continuously tapered body having wide and contracted ends,

a screwdriver mounted in and extending longitudinally of said body and having an end protruding beyond the contracted end of said body, a pair of rod-like elements pivotally mounted in the wide end of said body, the

body being grooved at opposite. sides to receive saidelements when in collapsed position, free ends of said elements projecting beyond the contracted end of said body when in collapsed position, said elements being adapted to be swung into difierent positions through an' arc'of substantially 180, tensional means in the wide end portion of said body for supporting said elements in dif V ferent positions, the mounting of said screwdriver and elements in said body including a mounting part embedded in the wide end of said body, means keying said mounting partin said body, said body being composed of flexible material, and the wide end portion of said body including parts adapted to be extended when the elements are moved into difierent positions of adjustment.

2. A tool of the class described, comprising a con tinuously tapered'body having wide and contracted ends, a screwdriver mounted in and extending longitudinally of said body and having an end protruding beyond the contracted end of said body, a pair of rod-like elements pivotally mounted in the wide end'of said body, the

body being grooved at opposite sides to receive said ele-.

ments when in collapsed position, free ends of said elements projecting beyond the contracted end of said body when in collapsed position, said elements being adapted to be swung into different positions through an arc of substantially 180, tensional means in the wide end POI? tion of said body for supporting said elements in different 7 positions, the mounting of said screwdriver and elements a wide end of said body, means keying said mounting part in said body including a mounting part embedded in the of said body, said body being composed of flexible material, the wide end portion of said body including parts adapted to be extended when the elements are moved into ditferent positions of adjustment, and means integrally bridging said parts centrally of the wide end of said body;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 10, 

